(Posted February 2, 2005)

Messiah 74, Juniata 58

Grantham, Pa. ? For the second time in as many games Juniata freshman Brian Cannon (Fallston/Fallston, Md.) came off the bench to score a career-high 16 points for the Juniata College men?s basketball team. But also for the second time the effort wasn?t enough to secure a win as the Eagles dropped a 74-58 decision to Messiah College in Grantham Wednesday evening. Juniata is now 8-12 overall and 3-6 in the conference. Messiah improved to 15-4 on the year and 5-3 in Commonwealth play.

10 of Cannon?s 16 came in the second half as the Eagles looked to overcome a six-point halftime deficit. But Juniata?s comeback effort was thwarted as the Falcons shot 57-percent from the field and scored 43 second-half points to secure the win.

Cannon scored 16 points while grabbing a career-best nine rebounds. Chris Jasiota (Oil City/Oil City) was also in double figures with 10 points while grabbing six rebounds. Travis Boyd (Juniata Valley/Barree) and Aaron Chamberlain (Tussey Mountain/Wood) each added eight points for the Eagles.

Zach Wiernicki was the top scorer in the game as he scored 19 for the home team. David Henninger added 14, with Dave Carter scoring 13 and grabbing a team-high eight rebounds. Henninger also passed out three assists.

The Eagles hung tough in the first half as the team was 9-of-29 from the field and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the foul line. Jasiota scored six of his 10 points in the first half to keep the Eagles close. The second half was then a different story as Juniata shot 28-percent from the field and couldn?t match Messiah?s offensive production.

The Eagles get back in action on Saturday with a road outing against conference foe Moravian.

JUNIATA (58): Byer 0 0-0 0, Chamberlain 1 5-6 8, Boyd 2 2-2 8, McConnell 1 0-0 3, Hager 0 0-0 0, Ferko 1 1-1 3, Jasiota 3 4-4 10, Opitz 2 2-2 6, LaPrad 0 0-0 0, Price 0 0-0 0, Littleton 0 0-0 0, Holencik 1 0-0 2, Holloway 0 2-2 2, Bull 0 0-0 0, Cannon 5 6-8 16. Totals ? 16 22-25 58

MESSIAH (74): Akinnagbe 0 0-0 0, McCullough 4 0-0 9, Wiernicki 7 5-6 19, Carter 5 0-0 13, Henninger 4 6-8 14, Boyd 0 1-2 1, Skowron 1 0-0 2, Henninger 3 0-0 7, Yoder 3 1-1 9, Brown 0 0-0 0, King 0 0-0 0, Glazier 0 0-0 0. Totals ? 27 13-17 75

Halftime: Messiah 32-26. 3-point goals: Juniata 4 (Boyd 2, Chamberlain, McConnell); Messiah 7 (Carter 3, Yoder 2, McCullough, Henninger). Assists: Juniata 7 (Hager, Jasiota 2); Messiah 9 (Henninger 3). Rebounds: Juniata 38 (Cannon 9); Messiah 35 (Carter 8)

Records: Juniata (8-12); Messiah (15-4).

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.